Recently saw a shipping label on BFIST that reads M3A3 BFIST.
Was there ever a M7 BFIST or is it only a internet designation?

Defense Industry Daily seems to think that M7 is a valid designation.
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/the-us-armys-bradley-remanufacture-program-updated-02835/
I can not guarantee their trustworthiness ...


/ Robin

Extract from a report:

The M7A3 Bradley Fire Support Team
(BFIST) program is executing to the Army
Campaign Plan and completed modularization
of the force in fiscal year (FY) 2012
with 255 A3 BFIST vehicles and 79 M7
BFIST SA vehicles. BFIST vehicles are required
to conduct various mission scenarios
including reconnaissance and surveillance,
reporting of enemy activity in the
area of operations, reporting of hazards and
obstacles to movement, and the coordination
of indirect-fire support. Both versions
have equivalent mobility, survivability, signature
and night-vision capability, and they
use common repair parts with the maneuver
force they support. Target designation
for all available laser-guided munitions is
required, including those delivered by mortars
and airborne platforms.
The M7 SA BFIST is one of the two
models that replaced all M981 (FISTV). The
M7 SA integrates both existing and improved
FIST mission equipment packages
(MEP) onto an M3A3 chassis. Features incorporated
from the M3A3 chassis include
the 25 mm gun, 7.62 mm coaxial machine
gun, precision lightweight defense advanced
global positioning system (GPS) receiver
(DAGR) and the Bradley eye-safe
laser rangefinder. The current M7 SA BFIST
uses the stand-alone computer unit, the
ruggedized handheld computer (stowed)
and the forward observer system, with full
interoperability with advanced field artillery
tactical data system fire support networks.
The inertial navigation system provides
navigational capability based on a
blended inertial/GPS solution.
The second model that replaced the
M981 (FISTV) is the A3 BFIST. It incorporates
the FIST MEP with a digitized M3A3
chassis. Features incorporated from the
M3A3 chassis include the commander’s
independent viewer with 360-degree traverse
and the IBAS, both second-generation
FLIRs, to improve target acquisition
and engagement; the 25 mm gun; the 7.62
mm coaxial machine gun; DAGR; and digital
command-and-control enhancements.
The first unit equipped for the M3A3 BFIST
was the 4th Infantry Division in 2003.
The Fire Support Sensor System (FS3) is
being integrated into both BFIST configurations.
The FS3 is composed of two subassemblies:
the long-range advanced scout
surveillance system (LRAS3) and the laser
designator module (LDM), which will soon
be replaced by the diode-pumped laser designator
module (DLDM). When the LRAS3
and LDM are integrated into the BFIST vehicle,
it becomes known as the FS3.
LRAS3 provides twice the amount of target
detection over the IBAS, while targeting
and designating under armor from the gunner’s
position. This capability meets the
2004 heavy/light ordnance objective. The
BFIST with FS3 will allow the fire support
team to detect, identify and designate targets
for precision munitions at greater
ranges while remaining protected by the
vehicle’s armor. The new ranges meet the
requirements and allow for laser-guided
smart munitions, laser-guided bombs, and
missiles for rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft.
The first unit equipped with the A3 BFIST
with FS3 was the 1st Brigade Combat Team,
2nd Infantry Division, in August 2011.

The official designation is M7A3 BFIST. These are new-build or rebuild M2A2/A3 versions built as BFISTs. Thave the standard TOW loader's hatch up top and vision ports on top of the rear hull. However, some were made from rebuilt M3A2/A3s. These keep the M3 designation as an M3A3 BFISTs. They also kept the M3A3 TOW loader's hatch with its integrated vision ports on the hatch and no ports on top of the rear hull or on the right side of the hull.